Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Jumaane D. Williams for Governor
Candidate Name: Jumaane D. Williams
Office Seeking Election for: New York Governor
Website: https://jumaanewilliams.com/
1. Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified for the role you are seeking.
We cannot return to normal. Normal governance didn't work for the vast majority of New Yorkers. Throughout my entire career - from a tenant organizer, to Public Advocate of the City of New York - I've fought for those who have been historically left behind in a system that was designed to do just that. I'm often called an activist-elected official because I've been able to combine elements of successful organizing and achieve results in government. Whether passing the Community Safety Act, which was one of the biggest expansions of protections for the LGBTQ community and helped address the abuse of Stop, Question of Frisk; to passing the Fair Chance Act, which helped address employment discrimination
against those leaving the carceral system, to passing more legislation than any previous Public Advocate, I know how to bring the voice of the people into the halls of power. This is why I'm running to be the Governor - not just to hold a title, but to bring transformational change to the people of our state. I believe we need to move beyond the old-style politics and deliver for our people - whether it's finally bringing about real, true, income-targeted housing to people across this state, to making the wealthiest among us finally pay their fair
share, to ending a Black Maternal Health crisis that is causing us to lose to many of our Black mothers to a healthcare system that often minimizes their pain. That's why I'm running for Governor.
2. Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidates for public office you have previously or presently endorsed?
Ana Maria Archila for Lt Gov, State of New York Tiffany Caban, New York City Council
3. If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored?
One of the biggest expansion of LGBT protections occured with the passage of legislation I sponsored, the Community Safety Act. It helped protect against bias-based profiling. I am also sponsor of existing legislation that would require the city’s Department of Health to mandate training by hospitals to staff in medical care for Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming New Yorkers, legislation to require signage to be distributed on Transgender patients’ rights and services, and additional legislation to declare Transgender Day of Remembrance and Transgender Days of Visibility in the City of New York.
4. What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer or professional basis?
First, I am a Board Member of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club. Additionally, I’ve been associated with several leading organizations, including The Audre Lorde Project, NYC
Anti-Violence Project, Destination Tomorrow, Gays and Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society, The Center, Caribbean Equality Project, Bridges 4 Life, GMHC, among many others.
5. If applicable, what LGBTQ organizations have you allocated funds to? The Public Advocate doesn’t allocate discretionary grants.
6. Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community? No, but I consider myself an ally.
7. Have you marched in any Pride parades? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
Yes. I’ve marched for years in the main New York Gay Pride parade, the Brooklyn Pride Parade, in the St. Patrick’s for All Parade, and several others throughout my career.
8. Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently? Yes and yes.
9. If you receive the Jim Owles endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements?
Yes
10. What press conferences, demonstrations, rallies and protests in support of LGBTQ issues, pro choice legislation, criminal justice reform issues and the Resist Trump Movement have you attended and/or participated in?
I’ve been involved in all of these for years - as Council Member, as Public Advocate and as a candidate-, including putting my body on the line. I’ve spoken out/rallied/demostrated publicly against #WalkingWhileTrans, for protections for members of the LGBT community if there are interactions w/ law enforcement, including on Rikers Island, against the crisis of the deaths of Black Trans Women, against the election of Trump (where I was arrested protesting his election).
11. Have you ever been arrested in pursuit of legislation or for protesting an injustice? Please elaborate.
I’ve been arrested several times in my career in pursuit of equity and protesting injustice, including, as just mentioned, resisting Trump’s election, and against ICE deportation proceedings for Ravi Ragbir, among others.
12. If you are an incumbent, what have you accomplished in your most recent term?
As Public Advocate, I’ve been able to pass more legislation than any previous incumbent in the office’s history, including legislation to require a racial impact study for land use decisions, legislation expanding the right to record police from a safe distance, legislation to keep people in their homes during COVID by waiving penalties for failure to pay property taxes, legislation to ban pre-employment marijuana testing, legislation to expand the Fair Chance Act to including ACD’s and violations, legislation to ban discrimination based on requesting a Reasonable Accomodation at work, among others.
13. For the following pieces of legislation, please answer if you support and how you have publicly indicated such support:
A. Fair and Timely Parole (S.7514A / A.4231A): A bill pending in Albany that would ensure access to a fair parole release process for incarcerated people in New York State. This bill ensures that decisions on parole are not solely based on the nature of the original crimes but centers incarcerated peoples’ record of rehabilitation and assessment of current risk to public safety.
Yes. I’ve spoke in support in media and reports as Public Advocate.
B. Elder Parole (S.15A / A.8855): A bill pending in Albany that would allow elderly incar- cerated people who have served at least 15 years in prison an opportunity to appear before the Parole Board for a chance at release.
Yes. Similar to Fair and Timely Parole, I’ve spoken in media and written reports. 14, If you do not support any of the above legislation, why not?
15. Do you oppose life without parole sentences and other extreme prison sentences that don’t allow incarcerated peoples’ cases to be reassessed regardless of how much they change?
Yes.
16. What is your position on the recent revisions to bail reform? I oppose any rollbacks and spoke out loudly against them.
17. The recent changes to bail reform will criminalize people for crimes of poverty. If someone is arrested for allegedly stealing diapers twice, judges are allowed to set bail and keep the person incarcerated pre-trial. Do you agree with this change to the bail law?
No. We need to get to the root causes, instead of a lock-em-up strategy. That means addressing wages and reducing poverty as the solution.
18. Do you commit to visiting constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons and city jails? If incumbent, when did you do so last?
Yes. I last visited Rikers Island several times a Public Advocate, most recently in September, 2021.
19. Do you support legislation outlawing solitary confinement in all prisons statewide including city jails? Will you work to ensure that the HALT Solitary Confinement Act, which went into effect on April 1, is fully and effectively implemented?
Yes. I am the sponsor of such legislation in the city council.
20. When was the last time you were inside a correctional facility? September 14, 2021.
21. Do you believe sincere remorse and actions taken while incarcerated should be considered over the original crime in determinations of parole?
Yes.
20. Do you support the frequent, year-round use of executive clemency? Yes.
21. Will you publicly support calls to release 200 incarcerated New Yorkers within 200 days of the Governor’s re-election?
Yes! I have committed to a policy of decarcerating, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
22. Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals? Yes.
23. Do you support Clean Slate legislation (S1553C / A.6399) that allow for the automatic sealing of certain convictions and protect against the discrimination of formerly incarcerated people in housing and employment?
Yes. I was the proud sponsor of the Fair Chance Act, commonly called 'Ban the Box" that became law and prevented employment discrimination on the basis of prior criminal history
25. Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work? Do you support the bill introduced by Julia Salazar (S.6419 / A. 8230), which fully decriminalizes sex work?
I support not just the decriminilazation but the legalization of prostitution.
26. Will you actively oppose legislation (S.6040 / A.7069) that would implement the dangerous Nordic model instead of the decriminalization of prostitution? Explain in detail your views on full decriminalization, the Nordic model, legalization, and the existing criminalization approach.
We need to not just decriminalize sex work, but legalize it. Sex work is work, period.
27. Do you support ending qualified immunity for police and other law enforcement individuals? Yes.
28. What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and further New York as a “Sanctuary State”? First, we must ensure no involvement with ICE, period (which is why I support the New York For All Act). Second, immigrants are often left out of crucial government benefits, but are, like us, New Yorkers. I’d end this practice and ensure immigrants who may or may be undocumented are treated like any other New Yorkers, including when it comes to any tax benefits, eligibility for programming like Summer Youth Employment, employment by government,
29. Do you support New York's Medical Aid in Dying Act (A.4321a/S.6471)? Yes.
29. Do you support the establishment of supervised drug consumption spaces? Yes.
30. Have you ever endorsed any member of the IDC or any candidates who challenged IDC members? Please identify all candidates
I proudly supported IDC challengers in 2018 (including Jessica Ramos) and was proud to be the second to the top of the ticket and cross-endorsed most. I have never endorsed an IDC member
31. Will you commit to ensuring diverse LGBTQ representation among your staff? Yes, as I have done throughout my career.
32. Who did you support for office in the following primaries or special elections: A) Mayor in 2021 B) President in 2016 and 2020 C) Governor and Attorney General in 2018?
A: Maya Wiley
B. Bernie Sanders in 2016 and 2020
C) Cynthia Nixon and while No formal endorsement t, my campaign was aligned with Zephyr Teachout
34. Do you support term limits for statewide office holders? For State Legislators?
Yes, for both. I do think the legislature shoukd serve longer than the exec in any structure for city, state and federal and both should be term limited.
35. Describe any legislation and policy changes that you support in order to address the ongoing effects of slavery, racism, colonialism, and discrimination. Many of the “isms” must be solved by funding programs to dismantle systemic inequities, which include racism, sexism, colonialism and other forms of discrimination. First, I support passing Fairness Fees ot require the wealthiest New Yorkers to pay their fair share, and in turn fund things like universal healthcare for New York State, a fully funded education system (also by adequately implementing the Campaign for Fiscal Equity funding), and our public housing - which is in a crisis throughout this state. Although we can’t legislate away the “isms,” we must use government to dismantle all systems of oppression - something I’ve focused on my whole career.
36. What legislation or other policy changes do you support in order to make college and graduate school affordable for poor, working-class, and middle-class Americans and to alleviate the crushing loan debt that many students and alumni are facing?
I support a New Deal for CUNY, and frankly, a New Deal for SUNY. There’s no reason why our flagship educational institutions aren’t free and accessible to all who want to attend college.
Instead, we require students to amass so much debt, on top of debt - which ,by the way, the government should cancel.
37. Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Do you support the New York Health Act? Please elaborate.
Yes, and this will be a legacy item for Assembly Member Gottfriend who has pushed for so long. Healthcare is a right, not a privilege, and we must pass the New York Health Act to ensure
*comprehensive* coverage for all New Yorkers - and that must be regardless of immigration status.
38. Do you oppose efforts to change laws that banned private contract labor for incarcerated people? Please elaborate.
Yes. New Yorkers who are incarcerated are to be treated like human beings, not commodities to produce product - often for cents on the dollars. This is unacceptable. We should improve conditions, ban solitary confinement and ensure people who are there now have a much better chance at a successful reentry.
39. Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services.
Reproductive rights are at state, especially with the Supreme Court makeup and efforts by some states to roll back rights enshrined in Roe. If these state success, or if the Court succeeds, New York can, should and must be a sanctuary state for the exercise of these reproductive rights.
39. Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real es- tate industry or law enforcement unions/associations?
Yes.
40. Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives at corporations complicit in the Trump agenda?
Yes.
41. Will you commit to not hire any vendors or consultants who are complicit in union-busting? Yes
41. Do you support the legislation to prohibit evictions without good cause (S.3082 / A.5573)? Please explain.
Yes.
42. Will you push for the passage of Home Stability Support (HSS) to bridge the difference between the public assistance shelter allowance and fair market rents for NY's 95,000 homeless? Do you support S.856 / A.6032, which amends the Social Services Law to create a statewide rent supplement for families and individuals who are eligible for public assistance benefits and who face eviction, homelessness, or loss of housing due to domestic violence or hazardous living conditions?
Yes.
43. What should happen to 421-a? Would you end it, mend it, continue it?
It must be ended and thrown in the garbage. The proposed 485w was just as bad.
Income-targted housing promised under the program doesn’t even exist.
44. Do you support legalizing accessory dwelling units?
Yes, the units must be brought up to code, where allowed - they are
part of housing that - law or no law, will continue to exist. We also have to do better with speaking to the communities where this will impact
45. Do you support more state funding for NYCHA? If so, how much? )
We need several billion dollars for from the state and federal government. Combined the need is approximately 40 billion.
46. Do you support the Climate and Community Investment Act? (S.4264A / A.6967)? Please ex- plain. Yes. Legislation to charge corporate polluters about $55/ton of released emissions will go toward so many sustainable/green programs across the state, including wind.
47. Do you support the New York Public Banking Act (S.1762A / A. 8290)? Please elaborate. Yes. It’s very difficult for New Yorkers to bank. Allowing localities to start public banks will make it easier for low-income and other New Yokers to open accounts, save money, get loans for things like home and car buying.
48. Do you support the New Deal for CUNY (S.4461 / A.5843)? Please elaborate.
Yes, as discussed. CUNY needs immediate financial support as the city’s flagship institution.
48. In view of the fact that Ed Koch has been documented to have caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people with AIDS, and was blatantly racist, would you support a city bill to re- name the former Queensboro Bridge? Do you authorize the use of your name for such a pur- pose?
Yes. I also voted against it as Council Meber.
50. What is your position on removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle and if so, what should replace it?‘
I support Indigenous People’s Day and the statue removal. It should be replaced by another celebrating Italian culture.
51. Do you support reducing the budget of law enforcement throughout the state, and if so, by how much?
I support having other programs engage where law enforcement shouldn’t - such as mental health calls. Funding should be allocated toward these programs. For example, relative to mental health, crisis counselors and peers should be the first responders, not officers, who, with a dark uniform, badge, gun and posture, may exacerbate someone in crisis.
52. Are you in favor of removing police from any of the following? a) Schools; b) Mental health re- sponse calls; c) Homeless outreach and social services; or d) Traffic enforcement.
All of the above, especially as an initial call for assistance. When it comes to school, I support a just transition, as outlined in my report/proposals out the Public Advocate’s office.
53. Do you support New York City’s current initiatives to remove homeless New Yorkers from the subways and dismantle homeless encampments?
No. They are being done in an inhumane fashion.
53. Should law enforcements "Vice Squads" be eliminated? Yes.
54. How would you recommend law enforcement officers be penalized for refusing to wear masks in public while on duty, in defiance of city and state rules?
Police departments have several options from official warnings, to loss of vacation
days, or similar possible penalties. No one size fits all. Unfortunately the biggest issue is in most cases none of these options were used.
55. Would you support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding? Yes.
56. What will you do to support nightlife in New York State?
I’ve recently pushed hard for to-go drinks, which not only supports nightlife, but supports our small businesses. As Governor, I’ll support additional common-sense ideas that will help our businesses thrive.
57. State Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs is promoting the idea of creating a third party so that if a progressive candidate wins the primary race there would be a chance to defeat them in the general election. Do you oppose this effort?
I think the current Governor's contiuned support of Jay Jacobs is a continued stain on the party that began with the former Governor and continues today.
58. State Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs uses his title and organization to bash and demagogue against progressive Democrats to the point that he is now supporting a candidate who claims com- memorating a Klan leader “has nothing to do with race.” Do you call for his removal?
Yes.
59. What are the top 3 issues you aim to address legislatively?
I believe we need to move beyond the old-style politics and deliver for our people - whether it's finally bringing about real, true, income-targeted housing to people across this state, to making the wealthiest among us finally pay their fair
share, to ending a Black Maternal Health crisis that is causing us to lose too many of our Black mothers to a healthcare system that often minimizes their pain.
60. How much money do you presently have in your campaign account?
My campaign has raised several hundred thousands and expects to have the resources to compete.
61. What additional information would you like members The Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club to consider when we are making our endorsement decision concerning your candidacy? I thanks members for their time in considering my candidacy.